Villard Houses (New York Palace Hotel)

Address:New York, New York

Visit an historic 19th century landmark at the Villard Houses in New York City. In 1884, the Villard Houses were built for and named after the owner of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Henry Villard. Today, the Villard Houses are part of the New York Palace Hotel and a hallmark of downtown New York.

In 1882, Henry Villard, then the owner of the Northern Pacific Railroad, commissioned the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to build six majestic houses for him as an enclave for like-minded people to "secure privacy…and to live in a quiet and secluded way." In 1883, with Villard's house almost completed, his railroad empire began to fall apart, forcing him to move out of his new home within a few months. Each resident of the Villard Houses since then has continued the legacy of wealth that Villard started.

In 1968, the Villard Houses were declared an historical landmark, and today they are the property of the New York Palace Hotel, a magnificent 55-story, 892-room hotel with a fully-featured spa, meeting and conference space, and roof-top terraces with outstanding views. The north side of the Villard Houses is home to galleries from the Municipal Art Society and the Architectural League of New York. The Villard Houses also host the city's largest architectural bookstore. After touring the Villard Houses, visitors can find a wide variety of restaurants within easy walking distance, ranging from Chinese cuisine to health food.

To get to the Villard Houses, take I-95 north to exit 16E, then get onto NJ-495E, and turn right onto West 42nd Street. Make a left onto 8th Avenue, then right onto West 48th Street and left onto Madison Avenue.